Overall Route Rating
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3.82 out of 5 Rider Rating 3.82
13 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Oct 31, 2008

Rider Reviews

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Guest
July 7, 2010
This is indeed a nice stretch of road between 7…
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Guest
January 24, 2009
We rode this route last May 2008, and it is…
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Written Directions

This route is easy to find and follow. You'll find the starting point in town about 15 minuets west of Leesburg, VA called Bluemont, VA. At the intersection of route 7 and route 601 just take route 601 southwest. Immediately the 601 will climb to the spine of the mountains and you just stay on this all the way till it ends when it drops down out off the mountain and runs into US Highway 50.

Scenery

This is a favorite ride of mine that I stumbled on a few years ago when my work sent me out to some FEMA command center out in just northeast of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's about 15 minutes west of Leesburg and once I got out there and turned on to VA 601 I knew that I had stumbled on to what is a very nice little stretch of motorcycle road. The whole 11 or so miles rides along a not very well known spine of a section of the Blue Ridge Mountains (just look at the Google Maps Satellite view of the road to see how it drives right over the top ridge of the mountain range). You'll be riding through beautiful thick lush forest with a few sections were it opens up a bit for some views of fields. Another sight to enjoy along the way are the beautiful homes. Some really smart (and rich) people have built their dream homes along this stretch of mountains with what I imagine would be jaw dropping views from there back decks. Much of the road is lined with some really authentic looking (I can't tell if it's really old or just made to look that way) stone fencing traveling for miles along the road. At the very end of the route when 601 runs into US Hwy 50, make sure you take that (Hwy 50 east for just a mile or less and you'll take in a great valley view (see pics below)). The following addition was contributed by Ralph C in March of 2014: A beautiful soul-stirring ride along a mountain ridge flanked by beautiful forests. Nice enough during the summer, this is spectacular in the fall. This road is a nice bookend to Snickersville Turnpike, since the northern access is about a half-mile west of the Turnpike/Route 7 intersection.

Drive Enjoyment

The road conditions are perfect in terms of quality of the road surface ... no potholes or even gravel to avoid. The turns are modest and so are the elevation changes ... this one won't require any peg dragging but the tameness of the roads will at least let you take in all the nice scenery up there. The road wasn't crowded but it wasn't empty either ... like I said before there is a FEMA center up there and homes so the workers and residents make up most of the traffic. The following addition was contributed by Ralph C in March of 2014: The road runs southwest from Route 7 along a picturesque mountain ridge bracketed by beautiful mountain forests and a few spectacular homes. There are gentle curves at the top, which get progressively tighter towards the south. About halfway down, you pass the Mt. Weather FEMA facility. Smile big for the cameras.

Tourism Opportunities

I had to be honest and give this a 1 for amenities because there really isn't anything to do along the way (not even restaurants or gas stations) but DON'T TAKE THIS ROUTE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SHOP FOR TRINKETS, TAKE IT FOR IT'S BEAUTY AND REMOTENESS.

All the below pictures were taken where the route ends at the intersection of Rt 601 and US Hwy 50. You have to travel a little east (a mile or two) on Hwy 50 to see the valley view and check out the old town with the old buildings.







Motorcycle Road Additional info

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Guest
July 7, 2010
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
This is indeed a nice stretch of road between 7 and 50. Uncle Sam has done a good job of keeping it nice and maintained due to the "facility" at the top of the hill. 606 that runs along the Shenandoah is a nice little run too. It's only a mile or so west on 7 or 50 depending which way you run 601.
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Guest
January 24, 2009
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
We rode this route last May 2008, and it is awesome!! But you must go all the way to the south end of the Parkway to Tennessee. We took 3 days to do it, stopping along the way several places. The scenery is AWESOME!! It's like being in heaven. Enjoy!!
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AceMoose
September 19, 2016
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Other
BEAUTIFUL stretch of road -- Watch out if you are turning from 50 Eastbound-- the road from 50 to 601 dips down, has a ditch to the left and curves right into 601 -- Traffic going on 50 West comes over the crest of a rise and is not visible from a distance. However, 601 is AAAWESOME, twisty curvaceous, old and new houses set waay back into the thick forest. Beautiful views seen way in the distance. Deer and feral pigs are also 601 wayfarers, enjoying the vegetation and could easily come out from behind those trees.
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